An unannounced visit to the Central Prison, with the aim of evaluating and monitoring the juvenile detention facilities, was conducted by the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Ms. Maria Stylianou-Lottidi, in her capacity as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (National Preventive Mechanism – NPM), through officials from her Office.

According to an announcement by the Office of the Commissioner for Administration, the visit took place on Monday as part of the project “Technical Support for More Effective and Resilient National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs),” which is being implemented by the Commissioner’s Office under its mandate as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture, in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the Office of the Irish Prison Inspector. The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

“Following the successful unannounced visit to the Pournara Initial Reception Center, which took place last week as part of the Project’s training activities, today’s visit is part of a series of visits aimed at strengthening the capacity of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in carrying out its mandate, in accordance with the requirements of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and international standards for the protection of children’s rights, under the guidance of and in cooperation with the Council of Europe,” the statement emphasizes.

It is noted that “the visit focused on monitoring juvenile detention facilities and assessing the extent to which the required child-centered approach is ensured and all forms of ill-treatment are prevented, using new monitoring tools, including specialized and detailed checklists, developed by the Council of Europe as part of the Project, following substantial work by its experts, with the aim of developing a comprehensive framework for monitoring juvenile detention facilities (Juvenile Detention Monitoring Framework).”

It is further noted that the findings of the visit, as well as any resulting recommendations, will be communicated in the near future to the relevant agencies and bodies for review and the implementation of necessary measures, within the scope of their respective responsibilities.

It should be noted that the representatives of the Council of Europe were not members of the CPT but rather experts who, as part of the project providing technical support for more resilient and effective Mechanisms for the, acted alongside the officials as observers regarding the implementation of the methodology followed during unannounced visits.

Source: CNA